Bible Truth for Today & Christian Counseling for the Soul

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Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Psalm 85:6

We need revival. Every Christian needs the renewal, refreshment, and revitalization of commitment, perspective, and a deeper fellowship with God. Notice this study from several years ago:

“The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago recently released its finding from the first comprehensive study of spiritual beliefs in the former Soviet Union since the fall of communism. Among the most interesting findings is the large percentage of conversions from atheism. Twenty-two percent of the population at large said they were once atheists but now believe in God. Andrew Greeley, a sociologist at the University of Chicago, wrote a report on the findings and titled it “God Is Alive and Well and Living in Moscow” Greeley said, “It would seem, at least at first glance, to demonstrate that after the most serious attempt to obliterate religion in human history, they are experiencing the most dramatic religious revival in human history.””

The word Revive (Chayah) means to “restore life, make alive.” Some believers have been saved for a while and have and lost the fire and joy of their salvation. Some go through the motions of Christianity while drying up spiritually inside. Others do not even go through the motions anymore.

Backsliders today were in need of revival yesterday, but tragically, they neglected it. That does not have to be the case! Embrace your life in Christ. Have hope for a closer walk with God today!

Evangelist and friend, Dr. Rich Flanders identified 4 ideas that hinder Revival in his book “Back to Normal.” He said:

“Let’s define revival from history.”

“Let’s improve the plan of salvation.”

“Let’s not talk too much about the Holy Spirit.”

“Let’s get in touch with this new generation.”

Those are definite ways to hinder revival and we could do those things purposefully – or accidentally, if we not think about it.

When Paul wrote to the local churches he expressed that, many times he found hope, encouragement, and refreshment in their testimony and steadfastness. Their walk with Jesus renewed Paul’s joy. If you are living in revival, you will encourage others too!

2 Corinthians 7:13 says, “Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.” Again in 2 Timothy 1:16, “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:”

Evangelist Gypsy Smith, was asked what the secret of revival is. He said, “Go home. Take a piece of chalk. Draw a circle around yourself. Then pray, ‘O Lord, revive everything inside this circle.’” Put yourself in that circle today and ask the Lord for revival in your own heart and life.

King David lost his joy. Following his selfish sins with Bathsheba, the cover up and murder of Uriah, he confesses to God in Psalm 51:12, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.” If you do not have an inner, long-lasting happiness and satisfaction in Jesus, you can have it restored in your life today – through revival.

Now, my perception of self-shifts from being selfish to being Biblically accurate. My emotions are controlled. I am not easily offended. Where I may have been depressed, now I am thinking of God and others. Where I may have been discouraged, I find my self-worth in Jesus. It could be that I was defiant to rules, authority, or leadership; now I am submissive to the Holy Spirit. Bitterness is not allowed to take root because I deal with disappointment on a daily basis. My anger is under the control of God. My relationship with God is primary, and my relationship with others is prioritized. Like Mark 12:30 says, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.”

Paul anticipated, expected refreshing, and change for better when hearing about Onesimus and Philemon. We can have the same confident expectation of the Lord. God can change us! If we are not willing to admit our sin, wrong thinking, or guilt, then hope for change is diminished. That is the beauty of confession of sin. Sin is something that can be repented of and then a change in life and action can take root.

Sin does not need to control you – you have hope for change following confession. I no longer need to drown in the sea of temptations, the Lord will deliver me. Revival brings about this hope for change.

Our hope is also in Christ. Our hope is not money, personality, ability, or other men – our hope is found in Jesus Himself. 1 Timothy 1:1 says, “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope.”

Christians can lose hope from time to time. We lose hope when we focus on now instead of tomorrow. Problems can be BIG, but God is BIGGER. Today may be terrible, but tomorrow is much better! Don’t let fear, anxiety, and worry define your life. Look to Jesus. Titus 2:13, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

God is our help in times of trouble. II Corinthians 4:8-10 says, “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.” Notice the contrast of terrible situations with the deliverance and helping hand of the Lord in those verses..

When it seems “all hope is lost” find help in Jesus. Call out to Him. Pray to God the Father in Jesus’ name. Help is found in prayer. Hebrews 4:16 emphatically states, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

4. Your Healing. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is a common verse preached concerning revival. Please read it again: “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

Humility, praying, turning to God and turning from sin are all active parts of repentance and true revival. We cannot be healed until the need for healing is admitted. A relationship cannot be restored until a confession of the need of restoration is made. A marriage cannot be mended until contrition of sin, bitterness, or resentment is expressed. A renewal of commitment to Bible reading, prayer, church participation, and witnessing cannot be made until a confession of those things being lacking is made. Simply put- you cannot fix what is not believed to be broken.

Let revival begin the healing process in every part of your life.

5. Your Honor. Romans 8:6-8 admonishes: “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”

It is possible for a Christian to live like a “dead man” for a short time. To have a fleshly, or carnal mind is living against God and that brings about death. Some Christians are decaying from the inside out because they have loved their sin more than Jesus.

In contrast, Life and peace come about from a life yielded to the Holy Spirit. This is a person who is developing, and growing in the Lord and is “spiritually minded.”

If you find yourself struggling with your flesh, being quick to anger in your heart and mind, or are not able to overcome the temptation to live after your human nature, you need revival. Come back to the first things that you learned when you were saved. Determine with God’s help, that the renewed, refreshed life in Jesus is something that you will ask, seek, and find each day. With all the honor of your being commit to glorify and honor the Lord.

The Wilton Baptist Church covenant is a good summary of the Christian life. While these expectations are the goals we have committed to, there will be times that we sin, deviate from theses principles or do wrong. It is not the letter of the law, but the spirit of the life that really counts. I may not live up to these concepts perfectly, but “I am trying to.” With God’s grace, have an attitude of “I will do the best I can and when I mess up, I will confess it, seek forgiveness, and keep moving forward for and with Jesus.”

“Having been led, as we believe, by the Spirit of God, to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, and on profession of our faith, having been baptized in the name of our Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, we do now, in the presence of God, angels, and this assembly, most solemnly and joyfully enter into covenant with one another, as one body in Christ.”

“We engage, therefore, by the aid of the Holy Spirit, to walk together in Christian love; to strive for the advancement of this church in knowledge, holiness and comfort; to promote its prosperity and spirituality; to sustain its worship, ordinances, discipline and doctrines; to give it a sacred preeminence over all institutions of human origin; to contribute cheerfully and regularly to the support of the ministry, the expenses of the church, the relief of the poor, and the spread of the Gospel through all nations.”

“We also engage to maintain family and private devotions; to Biblically educate our children; to seek the salvation of our kindred, acquaintances, and all others; to walk circumspectly in the world; to be just in our dealings, faithful to our engagements, and exemplary in our deportment; to avoid all tattling, backbiting, and excessive anger; to abstain from worldly amusements; to be free from all oath-bound secret societies and partnerships with unbelievers; to abstain from the use of tobacco in any form, narcotic drugs, or intoxicating drink as a beverage; and to be zealous in our efforts to advance the kingdom of our Savior.”

“We further engage to watch over one another in brotherly love; to remember each other in prayer; to aid each other in sickness and distress; to cultivate Christian sympathy in feeling and courtesy of speech; to be slow to take offense, but always ready for reconciliation, and mindful of the rules of our Savior, to secure reconciliation without delay.”

“We moreover engage that when we remove from this place, we will as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s Word.”

When the Revival Meetings comes, the tv and media players, and cell phones are turned off, the Bible is opened, and we ask the Spirit of God to work. We put ourselves in a place to allow the Lord to work in our lives. Time is set aside and specified for a special working of God in our lives.

These are five good reasons to have a revival meeting. I trust you will pray and plan to be here at Wilton Baptist for our revival meetings. Discover the HOPE and Christian life that God has for you at revival meeting.

Outside of the Apostle Paul and Jesus Himself, some preachers would say that C.H. Spurgeon was the greatest preacher who ever lived. He said: “A genuine revival without joy in the Lord is as impossible as spring without flowers, or day-dawn without light.”

What a good thought. Find the joy of your salvation. Discover the hope that revival brings. Develop the attitude and mind of Christ that spiritual renewal brings with it.

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 106:1

For this posting, you may want to open your Bible to Psalm 106 to follow along in the text.

“A man writing at a post-office desk was approached by an elderly fellow who asked, “Sir, could I get you to address this postcard for me?”

The man did so gladly, and then agreed to another request, which was to write a message on the card, and to sign it. He then asked, “Is there anything else I can do for you?”

The old fellow thought a moment, then said, “Yes. Add this at the end: ‘P.S. Please excuse the handwriting.”

All of us should be challenged with the idea of thankfulness. You can Become a thankful person today. Early Israel is our example to learn from in Psalm 106.

Eight marks of thanklessness to the Lord include:

Forgetting the Mercy of God. 1-7

Lusting for More Stuff. 8-15

Envying Others’ Power. 16-23

Murmuring Behind Closed Doors. 25-26.

Making Idle Inventions. 28-29, 39

Please note that Inventions = deeds. We can be very creative at evil action. Our imagination can be dangerous. Imagination = “Framing of the Mind.” When we think of it – then our actions will follow: See how these verses inform this truth: Genesis 6:5, And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And in Psalm 81:12, So I gave them up unto their own hearts (“Imagination”) lust: and they walked in their own counsels.

Too Much Time on Our Hands could be the result of blessing or even the result of hard work. When we abuse the time with evil, it is the product of an un-thankful heart.

“Idle Hands are the devils workshop.” It is a true idea rooted in Bible truth. Voids of good activity are always filled with evil activity. Fill your day with good actions. Fill your heart with Bible Intention. Stage the platform of your life so that free time is used for good, not evil.

It could be that being with other people prevents sin.

It may be that reading the Bible prevents sin.

It is possible that having routines and expectations could prevent sin.

It is true that being thankful, daily, could prevent sin. “An Attitude of Gratitude” goes a long way.

Idle inactivity often leads to idol activity!

Provoking Anger in Others. 29, 40, 32-33

Mixing Up Relationships. 34-36

Disregarding Human Life. 37-39

Check your life against this list of eight marks of thanklessness. How did you do? You could get this right with God right now and have a fresh perspective on life.

WHAT should I DO about Un-thankfulness? Good question. Here are 3 helps:

Stand for Right. 30-31

Think Right. Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind (“Imagination” in Hebrew) is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Do Right. Phinehas was thinking right and therefore he did right. As a result we know him even today as being a righteous man. He was thankful to God so he was willing to stand for God and right.

Seek Mercy. 44-46. May the Lord not give us what we really deserve. Remind yourself of His mercies each morning to help with your days perspectives.

Say “Thank You.” 47-48. In prayer – be purposefully thankful to God.

May the Lord help us to be a thankful people. Not only in November – but in each day that He gives to us. Be encouraged and challenged to live thankfully each day.

Recently, I was playing basketball in a community men’s league. These men get together for about 2 hours each Monday during the winter months to play on the hardwood. The games lasted 8 minutes each. At the end of each game the scoreboard was cleared of the points and another game started with 8 minutes on the clock. It was a fresh start. That was good for some of the teams playing to have a chance of winning! It also gave some of us time to catch our breath. New games are good.

Something new is not always good. For example in Exodus 1:8 the Bible says: “Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” This was not good for Joseph’s family. Joseph had already passed away leaving his people, by that time a nation, within a nation in the land of Goshen. This new Pharaoh did not know the history about Joseph and how he was such a help to the Egyptian people during his lifetime. The new king then put the Israelites into slavery. Something or someone new is not always good.

The Bible uses the term “new” in 138 verses. The Lord has much to say about this subject. Perhaps there is something new that He would like in your life in this coming New Year. Here are few good examples of “new.”

New songs are good. Psalm 33:3 encourages: “Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” And again in Psalm 40:3, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” Fresh, encouraging music should fill our homes and minds with reminders of God’s love, grace and mercy. The songs, hymns, and spiritual songs that you listen or sing should remind you of the new creature and the fresh work of Christ in your life.

Something that is new to you may have been around a while. Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 observes: “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us.” On this point, it is good to note that we should not pour water on the fire of enthusiasm of a young person leaning something that is new to them. If it is old to you, avoid discouraging the excitement in another. We took our entire family to a basketball game for the first time. It was a new experience for each of our young children. They loved it! Basketball has been around for a while – but this college game setting was new to them. There is always a good time and place for edifying others.

A new you is here. In the most personal letter to the Corinthian church, Paul states in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” These believers had some trouble in their church of which Paul addressed in the Book of 1 Corinthians. By the time the second letter is sent, he is very encouraging and gives them, and us, this insightful verse. We are new creatures in Christ! They were sinning in the past in the church, in their families, and in their thinking, but they changed. This is one of the greatest truths Christianity offers – Christ can change our lives, from lives of sin to lives of sanctification and service to the Lord. You can be a “New You!” Many believers simply do not live in the Spirit and effectively do not live a new life. The Lord identifies them as “carnal” or worldly” Christians.” Instead of loving Jesus like they should, they are still in love with the world.

Salvation is more than “tuning over a new leaf.” Being saved is more than a fresh start. However, a believer who has backslidden or lived in sin for a while needs to embrace the new life that God makes available to him. This truth is for a Christian today – don’t live like the old you (lost in sin) live like the new you, a new creature in Jesus! Romans 8:2 describes this in saying: “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” You have a new life “in” Jesus.

Perhaps a sin, addiction, or evil way of thinking dominated your life last year – it does not need to dominate your life in the New Year. If you are a Christian – old things are passed away. You are a new person. Don’t let a past defeat define you today. Ask forgiveness, repent of the sin, and by Gods’ grace – be the new you in the new year!

Decide today: Listen to good music. Encourage others. Be the new you in Jesus. Reset the game clock. Get a fresh start from God for daily living.